NBA Summer League Comes of Age as ESPN Boosts Production Levels ESPN is carrying all 67 games from the 24-team tournament in Vegas By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Friday, July 14, 2017 - 12:41 pm
Print This Story
Story Highlights
Not long ago, the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas was barely on the radar of the average NBA fan. Launched in 2004 with six teams playing 13 games, NBA Summer League seemed unlikely to air on national cable networks. A lot can happen in 13 years.
Now in its second year covering the 24-team Vegas Summer League, ESPN is carrying all 67 tournament games from Thomas & Mac Arena and Cox Pavilion across its family of networks. In addition, ESPN's The Jump and multiple editions of SportsCenter are airing live from onsite, and the network has increased its production complement with additional cameras and a variety of high-end tools, including a RailCam system.
Many years ago, Summer League was covered by only three cameras with a [NewTek] TriCaster within a small office trailer, and all the marquis games were played in the smaller Cox Pavilion to ensure a look and feel' of a capacity crowd, says ESPN Operations Manager Patty Mattero. [But this year], we have complete five-manned-camera coverage along with a few POV [cameras] in both arenas and an announce-booth POV. This is our second year covering Summer League, and we always strive to bring our broadcast coverage to a new level.
Despite New Tech Toys, ESPN Is All About Efficiency
Games on the ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU linear networks feature six cameras, including a beauty shot; games airing on NBA TV (and simulcast on ESPN3) have four ESPN cameras with a fifth provided by an NBA TV camera position. Both arenas also have three POV positions, which are new this year.
Among the highlights for this year's Summer League coverage is ESPN's use of a RailCam for the first three days of action at Thomas & Mack Arena. The rail is a 20-ft. run mounted on top of the announcers table and uses a miniature Sony camera with robotic mount. In addition, ESPN is using Marshall POV cameras below the basket in both arenas.
On selected games, ESPN is also outfitting coaches and players with mics for its Wired in-game audio segments.
Although ESPN's arsenal of production tools has grown for Summer League, the network remains focused on efficiency in the productions. ESPN is using its GREMI (graphics remote integration) workflow, in which all graphics are generated and integrated into the telecast at its broadcast center in Bristol, CT - reducing onsite crew and equipment.
[We are focused on] creating efficiencies without compromising coverage, says Mattero. Incorporating this workflow required careful attention to bandwidth and circuits for file-transfer and GREMI control.
Inside the Vegas Compound: Harb on the Scene
Knoxville, TN-based Harb Production Services is once again providing the mobile units, with DHP Sadie covering Thomas & Mack Arena and DHP Sophie handling Cox Pavilion games (both are 40-ft. expandos). Keeping these trucks cool in the baking Vegas heat during long production days is no easy task.
The number-one challenge is combatting the excessive heat in Vegas to keep all technical facilities and trucks cool to withstand days of setup and 10 days of live coverage, says Mattero. It's very hard to maintain a level of A/C, and many spot coolers are needed for additional cooling support within trucks and external rack equipment. The heat plays a huge factor when trying to maintain our [GREMI control and file-transfer] equipment racks from overheating.
Producing a whopping 67 games in 10 days with just 10 minutes between games has required Mattero and company to create a detailed rotation schedule to manage the roughly 120 ops/production staffers and technicians onsite.
[We are] focusing on consistent setup across both mobile units to support a rotation of several production teams, she explains. [That] has been very successful this year.
ESPN is delivering content via The Switch's fiber network along with IP Encoder paths for data and backup needs.
There are also many challenges to coordinate all the various comms needs and technical connectivity for different networks, with games airing daily on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, E3, and NBA TV, says Mattero. In addition to this, we also provide several different feeds to various teams' local broadcasters.
Much More Than the Game: The Jump and SportsCenter Onsite
In addition, PSSI's K34 (A and B units) production/uplink hybrid truck is on hand to serve studio shows, including The Jump (broadcasting live 30-minute shows) and SportsCenter (the 11 p.m. ET edition live from Vegas July 11-14).
ESPN has erected two set locations for both shows in Thomas & Mack Arena: one in the upper seat section and another at floor level. SportsCenter also has several satellite standup locations.
Chinese media giant Tencent is also at Summer League for the first time, doing pre/postgame interviews on selected games.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
IPC Expands Brazilian Presence with New Channel Partner CCATech
Industry veterans Carlos Abrah o and Bruno Lopes strengthen local support and expand IPCs prese...
20/08/2026
Zixi Enters Mauritius Market Through Strategic Deployment with MTC Jockey Club
Worlds Oldest Horse Racing Club in the Southern Hemisphere Selects Zixis Softwar...
20/08/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Scripps Research assistant professor Tiantian Liu has received a five-year NIAID DP2 award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Di...
20/08/2026
Audiences reveal appetite for multicultural Australia on-screen 20 August 2026
Dr Georgie McClean, Dr Rebecca Huntley (L-R)
By Dr Georgie McClean and Dr Rebec...
20/08/2026
How Mavis Studio Is Expanding Live Production Teaching at Sussex
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image displays a student about to mix be...
20/08/2026
Vertical Unscripted Series Legal Queens Captured with Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Reality TV veteran Eric Gardner create...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
NBA Summer League Comes of Age as ESPN Boosts Production Levels ESPN is carrying all 67 games from the 24-team tournament in Vegas By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
